Smartwool

This slightly warmer weather definitely inspires me to exercise outside. Since the air is still a little chilly, my hands always get so cold at the beginning of my run, but now I found some gloves to keep them warm. These Smartwool Glove Liners ($15) are perfect to wear on their own. They're made of lightweight merino wool that's oh-so soft (really, I swear it's not itchy). Why merino wool? After my hands begin to warm up, they can get a little sweaty, and the wool wicks moisture away from my skin. If my hands stayed wet, they'd get even colder than they were when I started on my run. I also use them to wipe sweat off my forehead, so they do double duty.

Since they're really thin, if my hands get too hot then I can slip them off and sneak them in the waistband of my pants and I don't even feel that they're there. I'm a huge fan of these liners since I can also use them in the Winter under my gloves on super-cold days. If you're looking for a way to keep your hands toasty on your early Spring runs, I'd give these a try.

With Winter comes a wide variety of snow sports like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, as well as the unique challenge of Winter running. I hope that you are not under the delusion that just because it's cold outside, you are not going to sweat. Sweating and Winter don't mix! Once your clothes are wet, they stay wet and that will make you cold. Plus if you pile on too many layers, you won't be able to move freely, which is really frustrating.

Here's what to wear and the order to put them on:

1. Start with a sports bra and undies that wick away moisture. Ones made out of cotton will be really uncomfortable when you sweat.
2. Then you need to put on your warm, base layers. Ones made with merino wool are better for Winter sports, since they'll pull away sweat from your skin and into the fibers of the wool. Plus they don't retain odor the way some polypropylene base layers can. Look for tops and bottoms made by Smartwool.
3. Then you need your warm wicking socks, also made out of magical merino wool to absorb any moisture. Put your socks over your base-layer pants so they feel extra secure, and they're less likely to slip down into your boots that way.

Want to see what else you need to wear? Then read more

If you love working out in the cool Fall weather, but you don't want your noggin to freeze off, you need a thin hat that'll insulate your head but also wick moisture away from your skin if you start to get sweaty.

Merino wool is a great natural material to wear while working out because it pulls sweat away from your skin while it's still in vapor form (body steam). That means your head won't get damp, so you won't get cold.

Smartwool makes a great merino wool cap called the Training Beanie ($19.95). It's made with a double layer of merino wool that's not at all itchy and resists odor. It's soft and comfy and will keep you incredibly warm. The Training Beanie is great for fall runs and can also be used when skiing or riding in the winter.

Your feet take a lot of abuse from all the pounding, stomping, kicking and leaping you do. It is a fact that if you are on the move, your feet are too. This means they get hot. This means they get sweaty. All that extra moisture can cause some nasty blisters. Cotton socks stay wet, so you need socks made out of merino wool, which wicks. The wool pulls moisture away from your skin, keeping your feet dry and comfy.

Here are some of my favorites made by Darn Tough and Smartwool. You can choose the amount of thickness and cushion you need, and the height of sock. All the pairs come in some wonderful colors too, many more than the ones shown here.

On especially cold days on the mountain, your regular gloves just won't cut it. And when your hands are cold, that's all you'll be thinking about, and it can ruin a great day of skiing or riding.

Sometimes, when you wear regular cotton or synthetic glove liners, it'll be too much, and your hands will get sweaty, and the wetness will just make you colder.

Check these out. Smartwool makes glove liners made out of 100% merino wool. These natural fibers help to absorb (wick) moisture away from your skin. They also regulate your body's temperature, keeping you cool when it's hot and warm when it is cold.

Worn with your regular waterproof gloves for frigid temperatures, or worn alone on warmer mountain days, these glove liners are soft, comfortable, and durable. They only come in black, but you can choose small, medium, or large for $15.

Whether you're slipping your pretty feet into ski boots or hiking boots, a long day on the trail could leave your ankles and shins screaming for help.

I found a wonderful (and good-looking) solution. Smartwool - one of my favorite companies - makes socks that have extra padding where you need it. There's padding on the shin and by your Achilles tendon. The entire foot and heel are thick and cushioned for added comfort and warmth.

They're made specifically for women, so they have a tapered toe and narrower heel. Plus these socks are made of 75% itch-free merino wool. They'll wick any moisture away from your sweating feet, to prevent blisters.

The socks slip on all the way up over your calves and shins, so they'll protect your lower leg from the weather, and from getting rubbed and dug into by the front of your boot.

For only $19.95, you really can't go wrong. If your feet aren't happy - nobody's happy.

Exercising outdoors in the winter is all about layering and choosing performance base layers can be tricky. Basically there's two main choices. Polypropylene or Merino Wool.

Polypropylene is a quick drying polyester fiber that wicks moisture away from the body. The fabric was engineered to do the wicking, since we all know regular polyester just makes you sweat. The downfall? The fabric retains odor, so even though you wash it, it can still smell a little stinky. Patagonia makes 4 different weights of its polyester performance baselayer called Capilene, so you can dress according to the temperature. They cost anywhere from $40 to $90.

On the other hand, Merino Wool is a natural fiber that's not at all itchy like that bumpy sweater your grandma knit you. When it comes to an active lifestyle, it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The wool naturally wicks away moisture. Plus, it can be washed and won't shrink. The downfall? It's a little more expensive than "polypro." Smartwool makes a great long sleeved shirt for $75.

If you want to know which one you should choose, read more